New Orleans In - Courtney Lee, Kyle O'Quinn
New Orleans Out - Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca, Frank Jackson, 2018 1st (Top 8 Protected)
New York In - Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca, Frank Jackson, 2018 1st (Top 8 Protected)
New York Out - Courtney Lee, Kyle O'Quinn
Why for New Orleans
Omer Asik is dead weight and does not play. Kyle O'Quinn is a better, younger back-up C/PF than Alexis Ajinca. O'Quinn can play with either Cousins or Davis as New Orleans primary big off the bench. Once Solomon Hill returns from injury, Courtney Lee is a major upgrade over E'twain Moore at SG. Until then, Lee can start at SF (he and THJ are basically playing a combo SG/SF role now for the Knicks). Frank Jackson was a 2nd round pick in 2017. Although he is a nice prospect, he is only 19 and probably won't get off the bench for a NO team trying to compete. He has Holiday, Nelson and Rondo all in front of him. The New Orleans 2018 1st round pick should be around #20. Add Top-8 protection in case Davis or Cousins goes down to a season ending injury and NO drops all the way to a Top 8 pick.
Why for Knicks. After a few losses, the Knicks realize this is not the year to compete and get 2 assets: A mid 2018 pick and PG Frank Jackson, who was a 2017 second round pick (#31). Ntilkina (PG, age 19), Jackson (PG, age 19), Dotson (SG, age 23), Baker (PG/SG, age 24), and Hardaway Jr. (SG, age 25) should make up the complete guard rotation one year from now - a complete youth movement that can grow together, Even though it seems like the Knicks will be loaded with Centers, this deal actually clarifies the Knicks C rotation. O'Quinn is actually too good to be on the Knicks and is taking minutes away for Willie Hernangomez (so far O'Quinn has all the back-up minutes and Hernangomez has 1 DNP and a game with 4 min of playing time). This trade make it clear that Knicks C/PF rotation is Porzingus and Kanter starting with Hernangomez as the first big off the bench. Noah and Asik will rack up DNPs unless someone gets injured. Either Ajinca or Sessions gets cut. Also, even though Coutney Lee's contract and Omer Asik's contract both run three years, Asik's is only guaranteed for 3M in 19/20. This opens up around 8M in cap space for the Knicks (Lee's 12M minus Asik's 3M) when the Knicks will need to max out Porzingis.